Trolling-hook



(No Modl.)

H. ZUCKWEILER. TRLLING HOOK..

No. 470,279. Patented Mar. 8, 1892.

wlw f I NITED STATES HENRY ZUCKWEILER, OF PEKIN, ILLINOIS..

TROLLING-HOOK.

SEECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 470,279, dated March 8, 1892.

' Application filed Apn'l 22,

citizen of the United States, residing at Pekin, in the county of Tazewell and State ot Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trolling-Hooks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and` exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in trolling-hooks.

The object of the invention is to provide a common spoon-hook with two swingingrhooks and a third stationary hook, (three being the number generally used,) land the points ot' the three hooks are designed to be brought together and inclosed in a suitable sheath hung from the body of the hook,so that said points are prevented from catching on obstacles under the water, but which points may be set free for work instantly by the pressure of a tsh (or other large animal life in the water) aglainst the said sheath in the attack of said fis i.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents an elevation of the device, showing a sheath depending from a lug or boss attached to the body of the invention. Fig. 2 is also an elevation of the invention, showing the points of the hooks inclosed in the v invention, which consists of a short length of tubing, to the upper end of which is soldered a tapering tube B, and this tube B is surmounted by a concave cap C, and to this cap C is attached an eye c and wire d, ordinarily used on devices of this class.

The internal constructions of the apparatus may be understood from Fig. 4, in which an 1891. 'serai No. 889,988. on model.)

upper and lower plate D and E, respectively, are soldered within the tube or body A, and the Shanks F Gr H of three hooks I J K, respectively, are passed up through holes for the purpose in the said plates until the upper ends of the said shanks are about one-quarter of an inch above the upper plate D, after which the shank G of hook J is soldered to the said plate D, thus holding the hook rigid therewith. The two remaining hooks I and K are each provided with a collar L and M, respectively', above the plate D, and which rest thereon, and said hooks also carry a collar N and O, whichare placed underneath the said plate D, and this holdsthe said hooks from sliding up or down; also, the said hooks I and K are provided, respectively, with collars P and Q, which are soldered thereto, and to each of these collars is soldered a wing or arm a a. The ends of these wings or arms a a press against a collar R, which is soldered to the hook J, and which collar rests on the plate E. The hooks I and K are intended to swing freely, and in order that the said hooks may always open after being released a spiral 'spring S S is placed over the shanks of each of said hooks, and the upper ends of said springs are attached to the shank of the fixed hook J, while'the lower ends of said springs are attached or placed behind the wings or arms o. a and may be soldered thereto, so that when a strong pressure is given to the springs when they are placed in the device the said springs may always open and keep open the said hooks I and K after the hooks have been released, thus keeping the wings or arms a a against the collar R when the hooks are not 'inclosed in the sheath T.

The sheath T, mentioned above, is show-n in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5, and is of peculiarform, and may be described as follows: A sheet of metal T is cut into the form shown, and which tapers toward the top, and the extreme upper portion is bent at right angles to the body of the sheath to form an ear t', and by this ear t' the sheath is hung by a headed pin 7s from a lug or projection Z, soldered to the body A. This construction allows the sheath to move or swing in any direction with perfect ease and freedom.

The sheath proper is formed of a strip of metal T, which is vbrazed or soldered to the portion T. The lower end of this strip T drops down as far as the hook-barbs and is hollowed out, leaving a cheek g and g on either side, and thus leaving or forminga depression f, in which the points or barbs of the several hooks are inclosed.

The operation of the device is as follows: lVhen the two swinging hooks are turned or swung toward the fixed hook, so that all three of the hooks or barbs are brought close together and all three of said barbs are di# rectly in front of the sheath, the said sheath is pulled outward from the body, and thus incloses the hooks in the cavity or depression j', Now, when thrown into the water and dragged, the device passes through and slips by the submerged obstructions without catching; but a fish in an attempt to swallow the device will depress the sheath, and, drawing the said sheath away from the hooks, release the said hooks for work. The hooks on being released are thrown back to their normal posit-ions, and the wings or arms on the swinging hooks strike on the collar of the fixed hook, and the three hooks are thus held at equal distances from each other. Another action of the sheath may be understood from what follows and by referring to Fig. 3, and iu which figure it may be seen that from a simple light pressure on the point T of the sheath thesheath proper (made up of the portion T and cheeks g and g) is turned to one side by reason of the binding ot' the hooks inthe sheath and by the binding of the pivot at"""the upper extremity, and that the cheek g is carried downward awayl from the hooks, and the swinging hook I is released, which immediately springs back to its normal position, and at the same time the fixed hook J is clear of the said cheek, and the remaining swinging hook K now having entire freedom Swings around to its place and throws the sheath aside and this leaves all parts in readiness for work.

I claiml. In a trolling-hook, the body A of tubing, the tapering portion B,mounted thereon, and the concave cap C, surmountlng the said tapering portion, in combination with an upper plate D and a lower plate E, both inclosed within the said bodyA, a series of one or more hooks, the Shanks of which pass up through both of said plates D and E, one of said hooks being fixed, the others movable, and a spring placedl on the shank of each of the swinging hooks, for the purposes herein set forth and described.

2. In a trolling-hook, the bodyA of tubing, the tapering portion B, mounted thereon, and the concave cap C, surmounting the said tapering portion B, in combination with a sheath T, hung by pin 7c from a lug Zon said body A, an upper plate D and a lower plate E, both inclosed within the said body A, a series of one or more hooks, the Shanks ot' which pass up through both of said plates, one of said hooks being fixed and the others movable, a spring placed on the Shanks of each of the swinging hooks, and awing or arm on the said swinging hooks, for the purposes set fort-h and described.

In a trolling-hook, a sheath made of a curved plate tapering toward the top and having an ear or extension formed therewith and a side projection on the said plate, said sheath being provided with a depending finger having an indenture formed therein, substantially of the shape shown and described, and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY ZUCKWEILER.

Witnesses:

J. B. IRvINE, ll. ll'. COLE. 

